Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver are remakes of the original Gold & Silver games released in 1999 with further aspects which were introduced in Crystal in 2000. These games are set in the Johto & Kanto regions and were released in Japan in September 2009.

As these games are remakes of Gold & Silver, they will feature both Johto & Kanto and follow the storyline of you as a new trainer, going through the gyms of Johto and Kanto, and winding up needing to thwart a Team Rocket plot to takeover the world with their Pokémon.

Even though it will follow closely on the basics of Pokémon Gold & Silver, there are a variety of new features brought into these remakes. Firstly, all the game mechanics are brought up to the 4th generation standards. Second, one of the major new features is that you can have any Pokémon follow you in the games. This way, you can truely personalise your experience. In addition to this, it also includes many aspects from the game Pokémon Crystal such as the Suicune Storyline.

In addition to the areas previously in Johto, there are new areas to be found within Johto such as the brand new Safari Zone. In addition to that, there are non-Johto Pokémon to be found in it including Kyogre in Heart Gold, Groudon in Soul Silver, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia & Giratina.

Between HeartGold & SoulSilver, almost all the currently available Pokémon are obtainable, barring most of the legendaries and starters introduced in Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl.

Heart Gold & Soul Silver is also packaged with a new peripheral; PokéWalker, which will allow you to transfer a Pokémon to it to train it up as you walk around your normal life. You can raise a Pokémon by 1 Level in each go with this and you can also capture Pokémon, many of which can only be found between the two games in it.

The games also have introduced the special events the Pokéathlon which has you using three of your Pokémon at once to partake in a set of mini-games utilising the DS' Touch Screen. These Pokéathlon events can also be played against your friends via the DS' local wireless features.